“We gotta move”

That’s a line from this new Monuments Mens trailer that was just released. And it could apply to the film’s awards season strategy too. They have to move. They have to move now because otherwise 12 Years A Slave will walk away with it. If they want to give 12 Years a run at all, they have to move.

So note the tone in the second preview. The first preview – click here for a refresher -- had moments of irreverence, was sexy and serious and showed off Clooney’s confidence as a filmmaker.

This time it’s a lot of speechifying, a lot of inspiring soliloquys, a lot of music that build and builds for goosebump effect. In other words, Hey Oscar voters, WE ARE ARTISTS AND ART IS IMPORTANT.

An obvious strategy, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t the right one. Otherwise, in comparison to the profundity of 12 Slaves, Monuments Men might be taken as too light. And if that’s the case, it won’t be a fight at all.